Tag: UFC 303

MMA News Today: Michael ‘Venom’ Page Makes First Statement On UFC 303 Loss, WBC President Expels Ryan Garcia From ‘Any Activity With Our Organization’ After Racial Slurs, & More

Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 5, 2024, we’re taking a look at: Michael ‘Venom’ Page Speaks On Social Media After First UFC Setback Michael “Venom” Page suffered his first defeat in the Octagon at UFC 303 this past weekend where […]

Continue Reading MMA News Today: Michael ‘Venom’ Page Makes First Statement On UFC 303 Loss, WBC President Expels Ryan Garcia From ‘Any Activity With Our Organization’ After Racial Slurs, & More at MMA News.

Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 5, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

  • “MVP” plans to learn and come back stronger from UFC 303 setback
  • WBC refuses to work with Ryan Garcia after latest offensive outburst
  • Ankalaev believes he can exploit Pereira’s striking in one area

Michael ‘Venom’ Page Speaks On Social Media After First UFC Setback

Michael “Venom” Page suffered his first defeat in the Octagon at UFC 303 this past weekend where he was beaten on the scorecards by Ian Garry.

Despite displaying some of his unpredictable striking at it’s best, he was unable to prevent his opponent from taking the fight to the ground.

Page could have been lined up for a massive fight if he was able to hand Garry the first defeat of his career, but now it’s time to go back to the drawing board for the London-based fighter.

Page spoke for the first time since the setback via a post on his Instagram profile, where he reflected about learning from this defeat in order to come back stronger.

“When defeat comes, accept it as a signal that your plans are not sound, rebuild those plans, and set sail once more toward your coveted goal. #ufc303”

WBC Cut All Ties With Ryan Garcia After Latest Controversial Rant Goes Too Far

WBC President Mauricio Sulaimán has taken action against controversial boxing star Ryan Garcia after his latest outburst pushed the line too far.

Garcia made headlines after using incredibly offensive racial slurs and referencing George Floyd during a rant on X Spaces.

With Garcia’s behavior only appearing to become more erratic and troubling since his clash with Devin Haney, the people around him are starting to act.

Sulaimán said that the governing body will be cutting all ties with Garcia from this point on and refuse to work with him.

His post on social media also makes reference to how he has declined the opportunity for help from the WBC on multiple occasions, claiming that they wished to support him through is struggles with mental health and substance abuse.

“Exercising my authority as president of the WBC , I am hereby expelling Ryan Garcia from any activity with our organization. We reject any form of discrimination. I fear for Ryan well being as he has declined multiple attempts for our help with mental health and substance abuse”

This latest outburst also led to Garcia’s family putting out a statement, insisting that they don’t support the things he said and that they don’t reflect who he truly is.

Magomed Ankalaev Makes Bold Claim About Alex Pereira’s Striking

Ask any MMA fan who the best striker in the sport is right now and you’re likely to be given the name of the UFC light heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira.

Following his latest title defense at UFC 303, where his devastating stand-up skills were on full show once again, his likely next opponent has made a bold claim.

Magomed Ankalaev believes that he will dethrone “Poatan” when they eventually meet, and while he would be expected to have an advantage in the grappling, he also believes that he can out strike the champion.

Ankalaev spoke in an interview with Mike Bohn for MMA Junkie about the one aspect that he sees in Pereira’s striking that he believes he would be able to take advantage of.

“I think he is a great striker. But he is the kind of guy who always moves forward, and that is where sometimes he might make a mistake. That’s where I might catch him,” Ankalaev continued. “Definitely he has a strong punch, but I think just overall, his standup fight is overrated. Watch his fight with Jamahal Hill; he had something to offer to counter him. Same with the fight with Procházka. … He was probably lucky or didn’t face serious opposition. Wrestling is there, but I’m ready to fight with him standing up.”

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UFC caller Jon Anik backs Conor McGregor to fight this year: ‘I know it sounds ridiculous and ambitious’

Jon Anik backs Conor McGregor to make UFC return this year I know it sounds ridiculousDespite his exit from a scheduled return to action last weekend at UFC 303, former two-weight champion, Conor McGregor…

Jon Anik backs Conor McGregor to make UFC return this year I know it sounds ridiculous

Despite his exit from a scheduled return to action last weekend at UFC 303, former two-weight champion, Conor McGregor has received backing from play-by-play lead, Jon Anik to compete not just this year – but twice in the space of eight months.

Slated to make his return to action late last month, McGregor was scheduled to take on former lightweight title challenger, Michael Chandler at the welterweight limit, atop International Fight Week’s huge UFC 303 card.

Conor McGregor admits deep mental pain after missing UFC 303 return fight
Mandatory Credit: Jose Penuela

However, in the weeks’ ahead of the bout, McGregor, a former undisputed lightweight and featherweight gold holder, confirmed his withdrawal from the matchup, citing a fractured toe on his left foot.

And hopeful of making a return to action as soon as August – if not September, following a recent offer to fight at the Las Vegas Sphere at UFC 306 by the previously mentioned, Chandler, McGregor’s comeback has been put in doubt this year by promotional boss, Dana White – who claimed the organization’s schedule was laid-out already.

Conor McGregor plans August return to UFC amid toe injury layoff I can't get into a shoe yet
Mandatory Credit: Jose Penuela

Jon Anik confident of Conor McGregor return this annum

According to fan-favorite play-by-play lead, Anik, however, he remains confident McGregor competes before the end of this annum, and furthermore, fights twice in eight months.

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“I’ve been waxing optimistic on Conor (McGregor) for a long time,” Jon Anik told MMA Junkie. “I fully expect him to compete in 2024, to come back at a high-level. Fight twice in eight months – I know it sounds ridiculous and super ambitious to some people, but I just know the mixed martial arts athlete is in there, and I just remain hopeful that he’s going to come back and make more of an impact that anyone expects that he will.”

“I messaged Conor after UFC 300 and I said, ‘Only thing bigger than 300 is McGregor versus anybody,’” Anik explained. “So, the biggest thing we can do is have a Conor McGregor-led pay-per-view. …”

Do you expect to see Conor McGregor make his comeback to fighting this year?

Georges St-Pierre’s Coach Labels Ji?í Procházka’s UFC 303 Performance As ‘Worst Approach To A Fight Ever’

Ji?í Procházka was unable to reclaim the UFC light heavyweight title in a rematch with Alex Pereira this past weekend in Las Vegas. Despite believing that he had made some significant adjustments for his approach this time around, UFC 303 was a far more one-sided affair than their previous encounter last November. Though it is […]

Continue Reading Georges St-Pierre’s Coach Labels Ji?í Procházka’s UFC 303 Performance As ‘Worst Approach To A Fight Ever’ at MMA News.

Ji?í Procházka was unable to reclaim the UFC light heavyweight title in a rematch with Alex Pereira this past weekend in Las Vegas.

Despite believing that he had made some significant adjustments for his approach this time around, UFC 303 was a far more one-sided affair than their previous encounter last November.

Though it is true that Procházka was having success in the first fight until he was stopped in the second round, he was seemingly fighting a losing battle mostly due to the damage that was done to his leg early on in the fight.

The same thing happened on Saturday night but Pereira was able to find a home for his devastating left hook even earlier on this occasion, before finishing the fight at the start of the second round with a head kick.

Firas Zahabi Criticizes Ji?í Procházka For Being Happy To Strike With Alex Pereira

The highly-regarded MMA coach Firas Zahabi gave his breakdown of the fight during a recent video on the Tristar Gym YouTube channel.

He was very critical of the approach that Procházka came into the rematch with because there wasn’t enough emphasis placed on switching things up on Pereira.

Zahabi referenced how there is a stark difference in the amount of MMA experience that both men have, with Procházka coming into the main event with 36 pro fights compared to Pereira’s 13.

The former coach of Georges St-Pierre couldn’t understand why the challenger wouldn’t look to take advantage of this by trying to take the former world champion kickboxing out of his comfort zone.

“You’d think Ji?í would have like 10 more years under his belt in wrestling and still he didn’t even fathom a takedown. He tried one little clinch, he didn’t even knock on that door. Very disappointing strategy by Ji?í. Ji?í was just seemingly happy to strike and I will tell you, within the first minute of round one, “Poatan” had landed like four kicks and you could tell he was already hurting Ji?í’s leg.

“Ji?í’s game plan and performance, I think that was his worst approach to a fight ever, he’s ever had. I heard he was like three days in a cave somewhere meditating, thinking about this fight, how he’s going to approach it. Unfortunately for him it really didn’t work.”

Continue Reading Georges St-Pierre’s Coach Labels Ji?í Procházka’s UFC 303 Performance As ‘Worst Approach To A Fight Ever’ at MMA News.

Jiri Prochazka targeting middleweight drop after UFC 303 title fight loss: ‘It would be a new start’

Jiri Prochazka plans middleweight drop after UFC 303 title fighjt loss it would be a new startOff the back of his second title fight loss to the incumbent, Alex Pereira over the course of last…

Jiri Prochazka plans middleweight drop after UFC 303 title fighjt loss it would be a new start

Off the back of his second title fight loss to the incumbent, Alex Pereira over the course of last weekend at UFC 303, former light heavyweight champion, Jiri Prochazka and his team are once more mulling over a potential drop to the middleweight limit for his return to action.

Headlining the promotion’s International Fight Week card on short-notice at UFC 303 at the end of last month, Prochazka was felled for the second time in less than a year by the above-mentioned, Pereira – who dispatched him with a thunderous second round high-kick knockout win in Las Vegas.

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And now boasting a 1-2 record in the promotion following an impressive four-fight unbeaten rise of finishes to begin his Octagon tenure, Prochazka claimed he would need to seriously “evolve” in his time away from competition, or consider retiring from combat sports.

“Hello everyone, thank you for all your support,” Jiri Prochazka said. “Thanks to you Alex (Pereira) for the fight, it was better. Only one thing goes on my mind: that I need to evolve, to the next level, or don’t fight again.”

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“So it’s very simple,” Jiri Prochazka continued. “To be the strongest, this is the way. Thank you, see you in the gym. 

Jiri Prochazka backed to consider middleweight drop

And discussing his student’s future following UFC 303, Prochazka’s coach, Martin Karaivanov considered a middleweight limit drop for the Czech star in his immediate return to action.

Jiri Prochazka vows to evolve or stop fighting after UFC 303 loss to Alex Pereira in statement
Mandatory Credit: Ian Maule

“Personally speaking, I see [middleweight] as a potential restart and a positive step,” Karaivanov told TN CZ Sport. “He (Jiri Prochazka) is also still at an age where he can cut weight to [185 pounds] relatively well. We will definitely talk about it, It won’t be my decision, but a team decision. A middleweight [move] would make sense because it would be a new start, something new to focus one. A return to light heavyweight would make sense if and when it starts becoming difficult for him to cut weight to middleweight.”

How do you think Jiri Prochazka can perform at the middleweight limit?

Alex Pereira backed to land ‘Biggest fight the sport has ever seen’ against UFC star Jon Jones

Alex Pereira tipped to land biggest fight sport has ever seen against UFC star Jon JonesContinually linked with a massive heavyweight leap in the form of a future title fight against heavyweight champion, Jon…

Alex Pereira tipped to land biggest fight sport has ever seen against UFC star Jon Jones

Continually linked with a massive heavyweight leap in the form of a future title fight against heavyweight champion, Jon Jones, light heavyweight kingpin, Alex Pereira’s head coach claims a fight with the former and his student would be the “biggest” bout in the history of mixed martial arts. 

Pereira, who is in the midst of a stunning light heavyweight run since his divisional leap last summer, added to his exploits at 205lbs at UFC 303 over the course of the weekend, laying waste to Jiri Prochazka with a blistering knockout win. 

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And already weighing up a heavyweight divisional leap off the back of his second career knockout win in a title fight, Pereira has aspirations to become the first three-weight champion in the history of the organization. 

Receiving an offer of a move to heavyweight by current interim champion, Tom Aspinall – who himself is slated to rematch Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304, Pereira was welcomed as an opponent by the streaking Atherton native.

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“As we’ve seen with me, I’m not shying away from anybody,” Tom Aspinall told talkSPORT reporter, Jordan Ellis. “So, if the UFC wanna do that [a fight versus Alex Pereira], I’m happy to do that. I think as an elite level fighter myself, you can’t help but be impressed with what Alex Pereira has done over the last couple of years. I mean, this time two years ago, nobody had a clue who he was, now he’s one of the biggest stars in MMA – one of the best fighters in UFC history.”

“I really, really respect what he’s done,” Tom Aspinall explained. “Does that mean that I don’t wanna fight him? I absolutely wanna fight him, but I’m sure there’ll be a time and a place for it. I’m not jumping ahead of things right now, I’m fighting Curtis Blaydes now. If that’s what the UFC wanna do one day, then we’ll absolutely do it.”

Alex Pereira tipped to fight Jon Jones in heavyweight super fight

Also linked with a title affair against Jones – who himself is ramping up his training for a November showdown with veteran ex-champion, Stipe Miocic, Sao Paulo native, Pereira’s head coach is hoping to coax the Rochester native in to a massive clash in the future.

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“I think it’d be a mega fight,” Plinio Cruz, Alex Pereira’s coach told MMA Fighting. “I think – the biggest fight this sport has ever seen. We all respect Jon Jones a lot. And I think it’s going to be just a great fight. I’m not going to say [who] wins, they lose, [who], wins, they lose. Fight is a fight, but I think it’s going to be the best fight between two great champions.”

Who wins in a future heavyweight showdown: Jon Jones or Alex Pereira?

Ben Askren Says It Was ‘Clear’ Ji?í Procházka Would Get His ‘Ass Kicked’ At UFC 303: ‘If You’re Starting To Worry About Witchcraft…’

Former Bellator and ONE Championship titleholder Ben Askren believes Ji?í Procházka’s violent setback at UFC 303 was inevitable owing to where his focus was during fight week. Procházka had his second attempt at regaining the UFC light heavyweight crown in the main event of the June 29 pay-per-view, which headlined International Fight Week in Las […]

Continue Reading Ben Askren Says It Was ‘Clear’ Ji?í Procházka Would Get His ‘Ass Kicked’ At UFC 303: ‘If You’re Starting To Worry About Witchcraft…’ at MMA News.

Former Bellator and ONE Championship titleholder Ben Askren believes Ji?í Procházka’s violent setback at UFC 303 was inevitable owing to where his focus was during fight week.

Procházka had his second attempt at regaining the UFC light heavyweight crown in the main event of the June 29 pay-per-view, which headlined International Fight Week in Las Vegas.

Having previously had his pursuit of the belt he formerly owned stalled by Alex Pereira at Madison Square Garden last November, “BJP” was targeting redemption against “Poatan” at T-Mobile Arena.

But the Czech star ultimately fell short once again, this time in a much more convincing and brutal fashion. After being dropped at the end of round one, Procházka was finished for good after being sent back to the canvas by a clean head kick in the second frame.

While many were backing the challenger’s chances owing to the early success he had against “Poatan” in 2023, one former fighter was expecting the UFC 303 main event to play out as it did after seeing some of Procházka’s pre-fight remarks…

Askren On Pereira vs. Procházka: ‘If You’re Worrying About Witchcraft, You’re Done’

During a recent episode of his Funky and the Champ YouTube show alongside Daniel Cormier, Askren gave his take on Procházka’s suggestion that Pereira uses “spiritual things” and “magic” from Shamans to help him defeat his opponents.

As soon as that reared its head, “Funky” believes it was game over for the challenger.

“I hate it,” Askren said of Procházka’s focus on “magic” during fight week. “If you start talking like that, that is a clear sign you’re going to get your ass kicked. If you’re starting to worry about witchcraft, no, you’re done. You’re not going to win. I said it, I said, ‘Listen, if he’s worrying about witchcraft, this is going to be over quick. He’s going to get knocked out,’ and that’s what happened.

“When you get that far, it’s a little too far. I said it, I hate this. I hate the fact he was thinking about this kind of stuff,” Askren continued. “(If you are), it’s probably over for you.”

A video has subsequently emerged showing Pereira and Procházka embracing one another at the airport post-fight, with the champion clarifying his religion and beliefs to his defeated rival.

“BJP” also made no mention of that pre-fight narrative in his first statement on social media. Instead, he took full responsibility for the defeat and insisted that he must evolve as a fighter or not compete again.

Continue Reading Ben Askren Says It Was ‘Clear’ Ji?í Procházka Would Get His ‘Ass Kicked’ At UFC 303: ‘If You’re Starting To Worry About Witchcraft…’ at MMA News.